Rick Carlson: piano

Steve Pikal: bass

Jay Epstein: drums

     BluLuna was formed by four veteran musicians out of their love for myriad genres of the jazz idiom without restraining themselves to one specific branch of the music. By focusing on familiar melodic compositions, this bias-free approach has allowed them to concentrate on playing very fresh and sparkling ideas honoring the wide range of America’s 1st original sonic art. The result is a startlingly warm delivery of a strong yet hyper-sensitive mélange of enchanting moments.

     Dean Magraw studied at the University of Minnesota and Berklee College of Music in Boston. He spent five years in Beantown, playing professionally and teaching. After returning to his hometown St. Paul, he’s had a life of music – playing, composing, arranging, producing, & recording. Magraw’s music is impossible to pigeonhole. For 15 years, he was half of a duo with mandolinist Peter Ostroushko. He has collaborated with Masahiro Nitta, who plays the traditional Japanese shamisen; with Nigel Kennedy, Britain’s bad boy of the classical violin; with Nirmala Rajasekar, South Indian vocalist and player of the vina; with the singers Bruce Henry, Ruth MacKenzie, and Claudia Schmidt; with the Irish supergroup Altan. As a jazz cat, he leads his own trio, performs with Chris Bates & Jay Epstein as Red Planet since 2002, and more recently has formed BluLuna.

     Rick Carlson has been the pianist for the Wolverines Big Band since 1980. He has performed on concert stages from London to New York City, and has appeared with Count Basie drummer Butch Miles, horn stars Warren Vaché, Delfeayo Marsalis, Evan Christopher and Wycliffe Gordon. His credits as musical director, arranger and pianist include the Guthrie Theater presentation of “Coward’s Women”, the Capri Theater “Legends Series” and in various concert and cabaret presentations internationally. He once opened for Rosemary Clooney, has accompanied Kathryn Crosby in cabaret shows, and counts Madeleine Peyroux among his many unwitting fans.

     Steve Pikal is highly regarded as a first call bass player from the Minnesota jazz scene. He has had the pleasure of backing shows with legendary performers such as Cab Calloway, Bob Hope, and Margaret Whiting. Some of his additional playing credits include the Jim Cullum Jazz band, Butch Miles, Artie Shaw Orchestra, the Barbary Coast Dixieland Show band, Dick Hyman, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jon Weber, Danny Coots, Brian Holland, the Wolverines Big band, Butch Thompson, Hal Smith, John Cocuzzi, Jeff Barnhart, The Midiri Brothers, and the Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz band.

     Jazz drummer Jay Epstein has an extensive career as a performer, recording and touring artist. He’s been on seven European tours with pianists Bill Carrothers & Giacomo Aula. Some of the notable artists he has performed with include the rock band Gypsy, and jazz artists Barney Kessel, Richie Cole, Manfredo Fest, Sheila Jordan, Karrin Allyson, Kenny Werner, Howard Levy, Toots Thielemans, Bob Dorough and Sarah Vaughan. His CDs featuring bassist Anthony Cox and pianist Bill Carrothers, have garnered luminous reviews in the international press. Current bands include Red Planet, Framework, StableMates, Firebell, Gypsy Mania, and BluLuna.

     “I can only imagine that the Billy Strayhorns and Matt Dennis’s of songwriter world would consider it a good day when these gentleman bring their paper to life. “BluLuna”. Find them and see them.” 🎶 – Judi Vinar.